21-Day Everest Base Camp Trek via Jiri from Kathmandu

• Arrive at Kathmandu International Airport, where you will be warmly welcomed by our representative and transferred to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free to explore this historic and vibrant city.

Overnight at the hotel.

Meals: Welcome Dinner

• From Kathmandu, we take a drive to Jiri on a 188 km/117-mile journey. There are great views of Langtang and the Ganesh Himal peaks to the north as our journey heads towards Lamosangu (78 km/49 miles) along the Arniko Highway that connects to Tibet.
• From Lamosangu, a pleasant branch road takes us to Jiri. The road continues onward to Shivalaya and Bhandar, but buses do not ply further.

Overnight at guesthouse.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• We cross the bridge over the Khimti Khola River and reach Shivalaya village on the riverbank.
• After Shivalaya, a long, steep ascent leads us to Sangbadanda village. Just beyond the village, the trail meets the jeep road, from which, after a short distance, a trail breaks away to the left and heads up along the ridge towards Thodung. Farther ahead, another trail branches off from the jeep road, climbs about 150 m/495 ft past isolated farmsteads to Khasrubas. The trail then becomes easier, crossing two streams before ascending again through rhododendron forests to Deorali. There are many walls here, showing that we are entering Buddhist Sherpa country.
• After descending for about one and a half hours, we arrive at Bhandar, with its two large chortens and a gompa. From here, we can enjoy good views down the valley.

Overnight at guesthouse.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• The trail descends through fields and crosses a few streams. In about 45 minutes, we reach Pokhara. There are some confusing forks on the trail here, but we keep left as the path winds down to the Surma Khola stream.
• Continuing to descend and curve left, it reaches the broad Likhu Khola Valley. There are two suspension bridges here, and we take the second one. The steep climb to Lamjura La begins from here, and we can now see some snow peaks.
• After a hard climb of about two and a half hours, we reach Chimbu. From there, we take the left at the trail intersection beyond, and after walking for another two hours, we arrive at Sagar.

Overnight at guesthouse.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• As we continue, the first village we pass is Dagchu (2840 m/9372 ft). As the forest thins and we climb higher after Goyem, distant snow peaks come into sight. We ascend to the top of the ridge, where there are many walls and cairns. Another half-hour climb brings us to Lamjura La Pass (3530 m/11,649 ft).
• From here, the way down is a steep zigzag. Descending more gently through open country with stone-walled fields and pastures, we reach the settlement of Tragdobuk (2850 m/9405 ft).
• We continue, keeping to the left. As the trail rounds a bluff, the large and picturesque village of Junbesi (2675 m/8827 ft) appears below, with the snow peaks of Karyolung and Numbur to the east. It takes about an hour to descend to Junbesi.

Overnight at guesthouse.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• After walking for about two hours, the trail rounds a spur and suddenly a dramatic panorama of snow mountains greets us. On a clear day, we can see Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Makalu, along with Thamserku, Kangtega, Kusum Kanguru, and Mera Peak.
• The trail continues almost level to Salung (2860 m/9438 ft), then follows the ascending path to the village of Ringmo (2800 m/9240 ft), full of apple, peach, and apricot orchards. The trail then descends steeply to the village of Trashingdo, where there is a beautiful gompa and good views of Kusum Kanguru Peak. Continuing through forests and across terraced fields, we cross a suspension bridge to reach Nuntala.

Overnight at guest house.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• After descending to cross a suspension bridge over a stream, the trail climbs very steeply for an hour and we arrive at Bupsa. We then pass through the forest settlement of Kharte to reach Khari La (2840 m/9318 ft), marked by a mani wall.
• From here, we can view Khumbila and Gyachung Kang. The Dudh Koshi River flows far below through a cavernous canyon that is, in places, as deep as 1000 m.
• After descending for a while, we arrive at Puiyan. The usual time taken on this route is 6-7 hours.

Overnight at guesthouse.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• After descending to cross a suspension bridge over a stream, the trail climbs very steeply for an hour and we arrive at Bupsa. We then pass through the forest settlement of Kharte to reach Khari La (2840 m/9318 ft), marked by a mani wall.
• From here, we can view Khumbila and Gyachung Kang. The Dudh Koshi River flows far below through a cavernous canyon that is, in places, as deep as 1000 m. After descending for a while, we arrive at Puiyan. The usual time taken on this route is 6-7 hours.

Overnight at guesthouse.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• There are many ups and downs as the trail passes along a ridge crest from where we can spot the Lukla airfield and Surkhe (2290 m) down below. This village is settled around terraced fields. Continuing our journey through cultivated land, the trail meets Cheplung (2700 m). Just beyond Cheplung is a French-run health post in the village of Nachipang. The trail eventually descends to a smaller steel box bridge over the roaring Thado Kosi, a tributary stream. If we are trekking in May, we may spot rhododendron flowers.
• Farther down is the farming village of Ghat on the riverbank. The path eventually drops almost to the river, opposite an ugly scar left by a landslide. The trail then rises sharply to Phakding village. A popular excursion from here is the short climb to Pema Choling Gompa (30 minutes) high on the forested west bank, as well as the nearby villages of Sano and Thulo Gumela. There are superb views of Kusum Kanguru and the peak of Thamserku.

Overnight at guesthouse.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Heading for Namche Bazar, we pass through the hamlets of Zamphute and Tok Tok, with dazzling Thamserku glistening in the sun and accompanying us through much of the trek.
• Passing through the scenic Sherpa villages of Benkar, Chumoa, and Monjo, we reach Utche Choling Gompa on a bluff above the Dudhkoshi River. From there, we continue between the bluffs to the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO-declared World Heritage Site.
• After completing about half the journey to Namche Bazar, we begin the second half of the march, which usually takes longer because of the steep climb at the end. Passing through the last village of Jorsale, a steep stepped path leads us to an amazing high bridge over the Dudhkoshi River gorge. Just before this bridge, the Dudhkoshi is joined by its tributary, the Bhote Koshi.
• Beginning the final uphill section slowly, we reach the heights above Namche, from where we can have our first look at Mt. Everest peering over the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge. Finally, after about 1.5 km/0.9 mile, we reach Namche Bazar.

Overnight at guesthouse.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• This is our day to take great pleasure in the scenic beauty of nature. There are many things to explore around Namche and wonderful mountain views to savour. The village, sprawling around a natural bowl, looks amazing from above, with its houses and terraced fields seeming like the steps of a giant amphitheatre. If we walk farther, our excursion takes us toward the Army post and the Sagarmatha National Park Headquarters.
• From here, we can enjoy astonishing views of the great Khumbu peaks, including Mt. Everest. To the west, the Kwangde range looks spectacular. To the southeast rises a succession of high peaks: Kusum Kanguru with its three summits, Thamserku standing tall, and Kangtega. The familiar Khumbila peak rises in the north, while Thange Ragi and Pharchamo soar to the right of Kwangde.
• If it is Saturday, we can consider ourselves lucky, as we may enjoy the colourful Saturday market. Sherpas from across the Khumbu gather at the street-side market to buy provisions sold by lowland Nepalese, and we will be amazed by the variety of goods on sale.

Overnight at guesthouse.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• From Namche, we take the easy, level trail that cuts around the ridge from Chhorkung to reach the end of a bluff, a viewpoint over a grand panorama of peaks from Thamserku to Ama Dablam, Lhotse, and Everest.
• From here, we reach Kyangjuma (3550 m), and a short walk takes us to an important trail junction at Sanasa (3600 m), from where we follow the trail to Tengboche. It runs gently downhill towards the river and drops gradually to Lawichasa. On the descent, the thumb-like peak of Ama Dablam soars into view above the trail.
• From Lawichasa, a narrow trail branches north to reach Tashinga (3380 m), and the trail then drops down steep stone steps to Phunki Thenga (3250 m) and on to a bridge.
• From the bridge, the trail climbs past some water-powered prayer wheels and begins a sustained ascent through a forest of tall, mature rhododendrons. We may see musk deer and Himalayan tahr among the trees before following the path to a Kani and a pair of chortens marking the start of Tengboche village, scattered across a wide grassy saddle below a crescent-shaped ridge covered with scrub pines and rhododendrons. The focal point of Tengboche is the famous Tengboche Monastery.

Overnight at guesthouse.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• From Tengboche, we follow the trail through a forest of conifers and rhododendrons, keeping an eye out for monal pheasants and musk deer. This leads us to the village of Debuche, where we visit Debuche Gompa, known for its expressive old thangkas and murals painted on wooden panels. Debuche also has a small Buddhist nunnery on the east hillside. The trail continues through dense forest to Milinggo and then drops steeply to a suspension bridge over the Imja Khola.
• We cross the bridge and climb the hillside opposite a white stupa with Buddhist eyes. After about a hundred yards, we see another stupa crowning an exposed bluff, mirroring the soaring tower of Ama Dablam at the end of the valley. East of the stupa is a footprint of Khumbu's patron saint, Lama Sange Dorje.
• We soon reach Pangboche village, home to the oldest monastery in Khumbu, Pangboche Gompa, founded by Lama Sange Dorje. Following the Imja Khola, the trail climbs towards the village of Shomare. Beyond this village, after crossing the treeline, we walk through a rolling arid stretch of alpine terrain with patches of scrub, isolated pastures and fields, and grazing yaks.
• Crossing yak pastures and herdsmen's stone huts at Orsho and Tsuro Wog, we turn right where the trail descends to a point near the confluence of the Imja Khola and Khumbu Khola.
• Finally, climbing a low ridge, we reach the sprawling settlement of Dingboche, a cold and windy place with sub-zero night temperatures even in summer.

Overnight at guesthouse.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• On this trail, we truly find ourselves in the lap of the Himalayas, with awesome mountains on all sides.
• From Dingboche, we take the trail that climbs slowly along the ridge through the village of Dusa (4503 m), where we have outstanding views of the twin peaks of Taboche and Cholatse. Ama Dablam appears as a perfect pyramid, while the summit of Kangtega is visible far to the left of the prominent saddle seen from Tengboche. The trail drops to a glacial stream and rises up the other side to Dughla.

Overnight at guesthouse.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• From Dughla, the trail goes directly up the gravelly terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier, and the path bears left at the top of the ridge onto Chupki Lhara, where we see large heaps of stones with prayer flags commemorating mountaineers who perished while attempting to climb Mt. Everest.
• At the top of the valley is Chola Lake, where we catch a glimpse of blue waters from the high trails.
• From Chupki Lhara, the trail drops to the Khumbu Glacier moraine, after which we see three great peaks - Khumbutse, Lingtren, and Pumori - straight ahead. Walking the final steps along a murmuring stream, we reach Lobuche.

Overnight at guesthouse.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• This will be a long and demanding day for us. Walking across somewhat grassy terrain and scattered boulders, we see the snowy wall of lofty mountains ahead throughout the route. A 60 m/200 ft ascent takes us to the top of the lateral moraine wall of the Changri Glacier, to a level spot called Thangma Riju, from where there is a spectacular 360-degree panorama of the surrounding mountains - Taboche and the Lobuche peaks, Pumori, and the rest of the Mahalangur Himal peaks, with Changtse in Tibet now more visible and Nuptse filling the eastern horizon. The trail then crosses the moraine of the Changri Glacier, which joins the Khumbu Glacier from the west, and after climbing steeply up a stony slope, we reach Gorak Shep, from where we catch our first glimpse of Kala Patthar.
• From Gorak Shep, we move towards Everest Base Camp to be amidst the mountains rather than seeing them from afar, as EBC is not a viewpoint. Walking by the shallow blue waters of Gorak Shep Lake, the Changtse peak in Tibet and the Lho La depression can be seen straight ahead.
• Crossing glaciers, icefalls, frozen pools of meltwater, exposed icy walls, and large boulders, we finally reach Everest Base Camp, where trekking ends and mountaineering begins. We then descend back to Gorak Shep for the night's stay.

Overnight at guesthouse.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Finally, this is our date with Everest, the climax of the trek. We start after an early breakfast without hurrying. Crossing the wide sandy bed of the dried-up lake and steep zigzags, we ascend about 100 m to enjoy great views of Lingtren, Khumbutse, and Changtse.
• As the climb begins again, we get a grand view of the Khumbu Glacier and the Nuptse massif, and finally we climb to the rocky viewpoint of Kala Patthar. It is a slow, tough climb, but every metre gained is rewarded with a little more of Everest, until at last we find ourselves sitting on the Kala Patthar rocks in the middle of an unbelievable Himalayan panorama.
• We then return downhill, which takes much less time. Retracing the way we came up, we pass through Gorak Shep and Lobuche, and from Dughla, instead of heading towards Dingboche, we descend to Pheriche, making our way along the Khumbu Khola for the night.

Overnight at guesthouse.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• From Pheriche, the trail descends to Tsuro Wog after crossing the bridge over the Khumbu Khola, with great mountain views along the way.
• From Tsuro Wog, we continue descending, retracing the route we came up through Orsho, Shomare, and upper Pangboche, and finally to the beautiful place of Tengboche. Tengboche Monastery is Khumbu's largest gompa.
• From Tengboche, we move towards Phunki Tenga and then descend to Sanasa and Kyangjuma before finally reaching Namche Bazar.

Overnight at guesthouse.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Our final day of trekking follows the Dudh Kosi down to Lukla, retracing the way we came up.

Overnight at guesthouse.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Fly back from Lukla to Kathmandu and transfer to the hotel. This is a leisure day that can be used for buying gifts and souvenirs for your friends and family. In the evening, you will be invited to join a farewell gathering to review great photos and share experiences from the trip.

Overnight at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner

• Transfer to the airport to board your return flight.

If you prefer to stay longer, you can consult us about short tours such as game drives at national parks, rafting, mountain biking, or tours to Tibet, India, or Bhutan.